Varanasi stampede live updates: 24 dead, Centre assures support to UP govt

Highlights

20:45 (IST)

Health minister offers condolence to affected families

Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Jagat Prakash Nadda, offered his condolences to the families affected by the Varanasi Stampede on Saturday. "Deeply pained by the loss of lives in stampede at Varanasi. My condolences with bereaved families. Prayers for speedy recovery of injured," the minister said on his Twitter page.

He added that the central government has spoken to the health secretary and other senior officials of Uttar Pradesh, and have assured them all the necessary support.

18:12 (IST)

Shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the stampede in Varanasi. Our heartfelt condolences to families of the victims of this tragedy pic.twitter.com/gXf0GibJo9

According to reports, the organisers flouted rules. "Permission for only 3000 people was given, but around 2 to 3 lakh people turned up at the event," CNN-News18 said, quoted Varanasi DM on Twitter.

18:03 (IST)

BJP blames local police, Samajwadi party for Varanasi Stampede

Mahendra Nath Pandey, BJP MP blamed the district administration for the incident. "What was police doing? This is careless of police and administration, guilty should be punished," Pandey said, according to a tweet by CNN-News18. Pandey also blamed the Akhilesh Yadav's party, saying: "Proper deployment should have been made; Samajwadi Party is doing nothing," he said.

17:58 (IST)

A timeline of disasters at religious places across India

This is not the first religious incident in 2016. On 5 May seven people were killed and around 90 others injured in the Simhastha Kumbh Mela, and more 100 people were killed and at least 280 injured in a fire at a temple in Kerala. Here's a timeline of disasters at religious places across India.

17:40 (IST)

23 dead in stampede out of which 19 are woman

The death toll in the Varanasi stampede has risen to 23, out of which 19 are woman, Varanasi SSP, Akash Kulhary told CNN-News18. Injured are being treated at a local hospital.

17:32 (IST)

Organisers had planned a foot march against meat and alcohol consumption

According to a post published on Baba Jaigurudev Ashram's website, the organisers had planned a foot march on October 15 to promote vegetarian-lifestyle, and create awareness meat and alcohol consumption.

17:20 (IST)

17:17 (IST)

Rumour led to the stampede: organisers

Reports have emerged that the real cause behind the Varanasi stampede on Saturday was a rumour, spread by some miscreants on the pool.

According to Pradesh18, "people who were present at the venue during the incident claim that visitors were told of a bridge collapse while on their way to Jai Gurudev Baba ashram. The rumour spread through the crowd, and people started running. There were thousands of people on the bridge during the incident."

"When people reached the bridge, someone spread the rumour that the bridge was breaking, which led to the stampede," Raj Bahadur, media in charge, Baba Jaigurudev Ashrma, told Pradesh18.

Bahadur also alleged negligence from the police department, stating that the police failed to provide proper security arrangements even though it was informed in advance.

UP chief secretary, Rahul Bhatnagar has sent ADG, Law and Orde to the spot to access the situation, the report said.

SK Bhagat, IG, Varanasi Zone, however, blamed the organisers, Baba Jaigurudev Ashram for the incident stating that the organisation was given permission for only 3,000 visitors, whereas lakhs of people were present at the venue. He blamed the crowd behind the stampede.

Meanwhile, UP chief minister, Akhilesh Yadav has announced ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the kin of those killed in the stampede and R 50,000 for the injured. The state governmet has also announced that it will cover the medical expenses of those affected by the incident.

17:02 (IST)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also announced ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to next of kin of those killed in #VaranasiStampede and Rs 50,000 to those who were injured during the incident: CNN-News18

16:44 (IST)

Most of the victims are women

According to All India Radio, over a dozen of the victims are women. Medical help is being rushed to the spot.

"Our condolences to the victims of the incident. All the senior officials are asked to be on the spot. The DM and SSP are at the spot and monitoring the situation. People are still stuck there and they are being helped. The organiser had asked for permission of 4,000 people," Samajwadi Party spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia told CNN-News18.

16:25 (IST)

"Two injured women are being treated in hospital," UP IG (Law and Order) Hari Ram Sharma told ANI. He also added that a probe will be held to identify the people responsible for the incident, arrangements for crowd control and the lapses that led to it.

16:25 (IST)

Uttar Pradesh Police confirms 17 dead

Speaking to CNN-News18, Daljeet Chaudhary, ADG Law & Order said, "The government is announcing an inquiry on the incident. We are going to the spot. 17 deaths are confirmed, as per our information. The rescue operations are on. Within few minutes situation will be clear.Within few hours we'll come to know about the nature of the incident.Sixty thousand to one lakh devotees were there."

Chandauli: As per initial reports, 12 people were killed and 60 injured in a stampede at Rajghat bridge between Varanasi and Chandauli where a large number of people had gathered for a religious event on Saturday afternoon.

The incident took place when thousands of followers of religious leader Jai Gurudev were on their way to Domri village on the banks of Ganga to take part in the two-day camp, police said.

Twelve people were killed while 60 others were injured. Five of them are stated to be in a serious condition, District Magistrate Chandauli, Kumar Prashant said.

However, conflicting reports are coming on the number of casualties.

PTI

Chandauli: Twelve people were killed and 60 others injured in a stampede at Rajghat bridge between Varanasi and Chandauli where a large number of people had gathered for a religious event this afternoon.

The incident took place when thousands of followers of religious leader Jai Gurudev were on their way to Domri village on the banks of Ganga to take part in the two-day camp, police said.

Representational image. Reuters

Twelve people were killed while 60 others were injured. Five of them are stated to be in a serious condition, District Magistrate Chandauli, Kumar Prashant said.

Senior officials of police and administration have rushed to the spot to carry out relief and rescue measures.

Meanwhile, a government spokesman in Lucknow said that the situation in Chandauli is being monitored and all necessary measures were being taken.

An inquiry will be instituted to find out the cause of the stampede, he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the loss of lives in a stampede in Varanasi.

"Deeply saddened by the loss of lives in the stampede in Varanasi. Condolences to the bereaved families. Prayers with those injured," he tweeted.

"I have spoken to officials & asked them to ensure all possible help to those affected due to the stampede in
Varanasi," he said in another tweet.

At least 19 people were killed and several injured in the stampede at Rajghat bridge between Varanasi and Chandauli where a large number of people had gathered for a religious event this afternoon.